Indian immigrants celebrate Durga Puja with gusto

07/10/2008 0 Comments read Diaspora

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 07.10.2008 (IANS) Thousands of Bengali immigrants and other members of the Indian diaspora ushered in the Durga Puja celebrations over the weekend with much fanfare and gusto here. Colourful pandals (marquees) adorned with spring flowers and intricately carved deities, women draped in dazzling Baluchari, Dhakai, Tangail and Kantha saris and men in traditional kurta and dhoti created an aura of Durga Puja back home.

Partho and Shampa Das recall their first puja here in 1978 when they had just migrated to Sydney from Mumbai. “At that time there were about 200 Bengali families,” says Das, a mechanical engineer, who moved the puja venue from his home to a school hall as the numbers swelled.

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Gandhi remembered on birth anniversary in Australia

03/10/2008 0 Comments read Diaspora, Features

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 03.10.2008 (IANS): A melodious rendition of ‘Raghupati Raghav Rajaram’ set the mood for the International Day of non-violence celebrations in Canberra’s Glebe Park, where Mahatma Gandhi’s statue stands tall.

The 1.68 metre high bronze statue of the Father of the Nation, made by renowned Delhi-based sculptor Ram Sutar, in the heart of Canberra is symbolic of the many core values of tolerance and respect for diversity that the two nations share.

Rich floral tributes were paid Thursday to the Mahatma by over a hundred Australians and members of the Indian community gathered at the Park, where workers come to eat their lunches during the week and families gather at weekends for picnics and play. Curious onlookers stopped to hear messages of peace and non-violence.

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One in 10 Australians racist, says study

30/09/2008 0 Comments read Features

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 30.09.2008 (IANS): Racism is waning but it still exists in Australia, one of the most multicultural countries in the world, say researchers.

In 2007-08, just under 200,000 people migrated to Australia, accounting for 59 percent of the increase in the country’s population of about 21 million.

It all went to make the country even more multicultural. The Australian social fabric is now a rich tapestry of migrants from nearly 200 countries.

Still, one in 10 Australians believe that some races are superior to others. “One in 10 is a lot. It means one person in every lunch room, one person in every locker room, five or 10 people on a train.

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